(The following is intended to be taken regardless of fuel economy)

I think the point this discussion has made is that there is no "best" time to shift gears. As long as you don't overrev the engine, or bog it and cause it to stall - do whatever the hell you want. I can think of numerous times with this car and my previous prelude where I'd take it from a leisurely 3-5k rpm and downshift to almost redline. As long as the little lights on the dash stay between about 1 and 9k, you're going to be fine. Tokyo James said it best - just shift when it "feels" right. This car is all about the feel you get while driving. As you get more accustomed to it, you'll learn when it's OK and when it's time to back it off a bit. (A good example of this was mentioned earlier in this thread - don't beat on it until it's had a chance to warm up. No engine likes being beaten on when cold.)

As far as the issue of reliability in relation to shift points, no one out there has logged either enough miles or enough quantitative data to prove it either way. The car has only been around for five model years, and the majority of their use is seasonal. Contrarily, Hondas have been on the road for decades, and I think it's safe to say every kind of driver (bad and good) has been behind the wheel of one. Honda's track record for ridiculous durability and build quality are widely known, and have persisted over all these years. The fact that you're driving one of, if not the most, durable cars on the face of the planet coupled with the fact it's a sports car (designed to be driven hard) should give you some solace in its reliability. If you personally take care of the car, it, like many other Hondas, will reward you with years of driving enjoyment. Although, if you don't redline it on a regular enough basis, you might as well go buy a Civic or something. After all, what's the point of having a car that can rev to 9 grand if you never see it? VTEC is there for a reason !!